NBA player Delonte West, who has been diagnosed as bipolar, went on an alternately bizarre, bitter and heartbreaking Twitter rant Thursday after being suspended by the Dallas Mavericks.
West was suspended indefinitely for âconduct detrimental to the team,â according to a sparsely worded statement by team president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson on Thursday morning. The Mavericks plan to waive West permanently within the next few days, the Dallas Morning-News reported that afternoon.
West told ESPNDallas.com that he was being unfairly blamed for an altercation between teammates that he was not involved in following an exhibition game loss on Wednesday night, and that he was told via text message not to show up for practice the next day.
After the suspension was announced Thursday morning, he took to his Twitter page to post a string of emotional messages that appeared to be directed at the Mavericks, including:
That my name showin up in any fashion in a negative light is the worst thing that can happen.everything Ived worked towards out d window
â" Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
Just ask u to talk with meâ¦.Iâm a grown manâ¦thatâs not above logic and reasonâ¦Before u go to the papers wit false information.
â" Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
If Iâm not what u lookin 4 â¦.Thatâs fineâ¦just dont kick me in my ass on the way out the doorâ¦.I didnât do anything to deserve thatâ¦
â" Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
I love the city of Dallas..I love playin in the NBAâ¦no Iâm not off my medsâ¦no I ainât on no bipolar tripâ¦this real people lives..
â" Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
And it just ainât right..imma leave it at that..no ill will towards no oneâ¦Iâm just sittin here across from the arena wit tear in my eyes
â" Delonte West (@CharleeRedz13) October 25, 2012
The tweets expressed a vulnerability not often seen by a professional athlete in any forum, let alone social media. They took on added significance â" and sadness â" given Westâs troubled history with mental illness. Heâs been battling biopolar disorder throughout his career.
The image of West sitting in his car across from the Mavericksâ arena, suspended and teary-eyed, is especially poignant.
Thumbnail image courtesy Flickr, GAMEFACE-PHOTOS
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